The 72 "Greatest" Moments in NBA History

A list of snark, mayhem, and glory

Y’all see the title and subheader. What brought me down this dark path?

First, the NBA is celebrating a so-called 75th anniversary season. It’s not the NBA’s 75th anniversary season, so I’m not entertaining any notion of creating a list of 75 anythings. Second, making lists is generally silly, IMO, unless you’re grocery shopping.

Third, since lists are indeed silly and the NBA is having a fraudulent celebration, why not make a list of the 72 “greatest” moments in NBA history to mark the occasion. But why 72? Because the 2021-22 season is actually the NBA’s 72nd anniversary season.

So over the course of this NBA season I will be “celebrating” the NBA’s “greatest” moments since the league was started in August 1949.

This means hilarious moments, shameful moments, athletically marvelous moments, stupid moments, moments better forgotten, and everything in between. Because what is the NBA, and life really, but a continuous train wreck that we somehow wring some joy out of?

If you wring some joy out of ProHoopsHistory, then subscribe to support this endeavor of truth and silliness!

(This page will be updated with the latest moments as I publish them).

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1. Jackson 5 versus the Dream Team (1971)

2. Dominique Wilkins Returns to the NBA (1996)

3. Moochie Norris Attacked by a Bat (2002)

4. The NBA’s First Game (1949)

5. Rick Barry’s Hairpiece (late 1970s)

6. Rick Barry, the Happy Slave (1971)

7. Gus Johnson demolished by Wilt Chamberlain (1966)

8. The Longest Thanksgiving (1949)

9. Bo Knows Eyewear (late 1990s, early 2000s)

10. World B. Free, Prince of Mid-Hair (late 1970s, early 1980s)

11. Laker fans ruin/save Christmas with foam fingers (2009)

12. Leo Kubiak and the NBA’s First Christmas (1949)

13. Allen Iverson meets Pat Morita (2001)

14. Brian Cardinal gets his championship (2011)

15. Wilt Chamberlain’s Rookie Amazingness (1960)

16. Hall & Oates go “One on “One” (1983)

17. Robert Horry in Game 5 of the 2005 Finals (2005)

18. Robert Parish’s run as a Charlotte Hornet (1996)

19. Dikembe Mutombo shines at the 2001 ASG (2001)

20. Red Auerbach punches Ben Kerner (1957)

21. Maurice Stokes inspires the NBPA (1958)

22. Wilt Chamberlain bullies the 1962 Knicks (1962)

23. Bob Pettit, gloriously bald (late 1950s)

24. Hakeem Olajuwon dominates Patrick Ewing (1994)

25. NBA League Pass (2000s)

26. Carl Lewis butchers the Star-Spangled Banner (1993)

27. Queen Latifah locks down Shawn Kemp (1994)